BLACKROCK COLLEGE ROWING CLUB Est 2009 Parent and

BLACKROCK COLLEGE ROWING CLUB Est 2009 Parent and Rower Information Evening 22 nd October 2020

Rowing Order q q q q q Blackrock Rowing Club in Action – Video by coach and past pupil Sean Hannon Welcome Introduction to your new world of rowing Our Mission Benefits of Rowing The Rowing Calendar Boats & Layouts Rowing Training Water Training Locations What to wear Crew Selection and Positions in the Boat Commitment Safety Blessington Transport Arrangements & Club Subs 2018 -2018 Corporate Sponsorship & Parent Donations Fundraising for Boat and Equipment Fund Getting Involved / Call for Committee Members Questions

About Rowing • Rowing provides an opportunity to make long lasting friendships, learn about teamwork and commitment while at the same time developing as an athlete and getting fit. • It requires willpower, dedication and concentration. • One of the greatest aspects of rowing is that it, unlike almost any other sport, is an absolute direct result of how much work you put into it. • Rowing is a complex and unique skill. It is a skill that requires continuous developing and perfecting. • The teams who go on to win are not necessarily the most talented, but the ones who worked the hardest to improve throughout the year. • From the side-lines rowing looks calm and relaxed, however in the boat the strokes become a dance of art and raw aggression.

Our Mission in Blackrock College Rowing Club Our aim is to provide the students of Blackrock college with a safe, socially enjoyable and competitive sport. We hope to develop the students’ rowing abilities so that they may compete at domestic rowing events culminating with the National Championships in July. We develop the rowers through a dedicated training plan, tailored to each age category with regular gym and water training sessions from September to July. Our hope is that the students will grow to appreciate all that the rowing community has to offer.

Benefits of Rowing • Teamwork • Rowing provides an opportunity to be a part of a team. The synchronisation and unification required of the rowing stroke instils concentration, dedication and commitment to the team. • Enjoyment • Rowers form long lasting friendships and friendships with the students in the years above and below their own. • Fitness • One of the main benefits of rowing is improved fitness. Rowing is a full body workout, using all of the body’s major muscle groups making rowing a superb aerobic and resistance training exercise. • Discipline • Rowing is a complex and unique skill that takes time and dedication to practice. It is a skill that requires continuous developing and perfecting. • Commitment • One of the most important aspects of being a part of a team is your commitment to the team and to the training schedule. In order to achieve the synchronisation and unification of the rowing stroke with your team mates a rower must commit to the training and racing schedule.

The Rowing Calendar September – July

Two Seasons Autumn & Winter months hosts the ‘Head of the River’ season. The second and more important season is the more recognisable ‘Regatta’ season which begins in April and concludes with the Rowing Ireland Championships (Champs) in mid-July. Head of the River Season Regatta Season • October to March • April to mid-July. • Time trials • Crews race side-by-side. • Crews are set off at intervals. • Up to 6 boats in a race. All competing crews are attached to a start line and race to the finish • Compete for the best time over a set distance, • Usually between 3 – 6 km long. • Oftentimes, due to the time of year and poor weather conditions, these events are cancelled. • Indoor rowing competitions are usually scheduled during this time. • First to the finish line wins. • The standard race length for a regatta is 2 km. • J 15 race 1. 5 km. • J 14 race 1 km. The Irish Rowing Championships – TBA – Usually 2 nd weekend in July • The culmination of the domestic rowing season. • 3 -day event • National Rowing Centre Cork

Boats & Layout

• Rowers sit with their back in the direction in which they are traveling. • The coxswain (cox) sits looking forward in the direction the boat is traveling.

Sculling vs Sweep Rowing Sculling Sweep Rowing • Two oars each • One oar each • Short oar • Longer oar • Small blade • Bigger blade • Minimum rowers – 1 • Minimum rowers – 2 • Maximum rowers – 4 • Maximum Rowers – 8

Training Schedule General Land Water Schedule: Day Team Time Location Monday 1 st 8+ & Subs 4: 30 – 5: 30 Gym Tuesday 2 nd 8+ & Subs 4: 30 – 5: 30 Gym Wednesday 1 st 8+ 1: 30 – 3: 00 Gym 2 nd 8+ 3: 00 – 5: 30 Gym Friday Coxswains 7: 30 am Gym Saturday TBD Water Sunday TBD Water

Water Training Locations • Blessington Sailing Club • Public Boat Yard, Coal Harbour, Dun Laoghaire. • Grand Canal Basin

Water Training • Head of the River Season: • Long distance, steady paced rowing with a mix of low rate firm pressure pieces of work, set over a certain time or distance. • Goal – to build the rowers strength and stamina while also developing good technique. • Regatta Season: • Shorter distanced / timed pieces, interval training with variable high rates. • Technical exercises to help coaches mould a crew together to row in perfect unison and work on eliminating any movements that interfere with the forward motion of the boat. • All rowers need a combination of good technique, rhythm, power, balance and the ability to adapt to the motion of others in order to work together in harmony. • There is no substitution for missing a water session.

Land Training • Supplements what we do on the water • Rowing involves stamina, strength and technique. Gym sessions incorporate a mix of different exercises in order to achieve these. • The Gym is equipped with 12 Concept 2 rowing machines(ergs) and weight-lifting equipment. • The work done in the gym helps to maximize the experience of being on the water. It is also a great place for team bonding. • While strength and endurance are important aspects of rowing, good technique with the oar is paramount. • If rowers are not attending their water sessions, they will not be allowed do their gym sessions ERGS DON’T FLOAT

What to Wear on the Water: - all rowers need official Blackrock Rowing one piece - strongly recommend a Blackrock Rowing splash jacket - T-shirt and shorts - warm thermal baselayers including leggings in winter - hat, buff and dry bag with drink, energy bar, sun glasses

Crew Selection & Positions in the Boat The positions in the boat have slightly different roles to play and each seat makes slightly different demands on the strengths of the individual. The coaches work to discover the seat which will enable each rower to excel and what combination of rowers can move the boat the fastest.

Positions in an 8+ • Cox • A good cox is paramount to a crews success. • Person in charge – Coach within the boat • Gives feedback about the power and rhythm being generated in the boat to both the crew and coaches. • Mentally challenges the crew and drives them to push harder. • Responsible for directing transport on and off the water as well as steering the boats and looking out for hazards while on the water. • 8 • The leader of the crew. Stroke • Usually the most headstrong person in the crew, he is both physically and mentally tough and technically skillful. • Responsible for setting up the rhythm and ratio. • Must be able to adapt and change in a way that allows the crew behind him to follow.

• 7 • Physically, mentally and technically strong • Ability to mirror the motions of stroke, backing him up by enforcing the rhythm, ratio and power that is being set up by stroke. • The eight and seven men are called the stern pair. • 6 • 5 • 3 • The middle four, otherwise know as the engine room incorporate seats 6, 5, 4 and 3. • Th strongest rowers sit in these seats. • 4 • Where they sit in the ‘engine room’ will depend on their blade technique, rhythm and ability to back up the rhythm set up by the stern pair. • 2 • The bow pair, with the narrowest hips to fit into this section of the boat are responsible for setting up and stabilising the boat. • 1/ Bow • They are lightweight, very technical and have clean blade work.

Commitment – 2 nd Year Rowers • September – March: • Students who want to join the rowing team must complete one gym session and one water session per week. • March – June: • Students must complete one gym session and two water sessions per week. • June – July: • Students selected to compete at the Irish Rowing Championships in July must be available to train from the 14 th June – 18 th July and complete three water sessions per week.

Crew Selection – 2 nd year • Coaches strive to select crews from the beginning of the season and develop each crew throughout the year. • Students who are absent from water sessions leading up to an event without reasonable excuse will not be selected to compete. • The calendar of events sets out the events which Blackrock intends on competing in. • If Rowers cannot compete at a regatta their parents should notify Laura Gannon as soon as possible.

Commitment J 16 / J 18 • September – March: • Students who want to join the rowing team must complete one erg session, two weights sessions and two water session per week. • March – June: • Students must complete three gym sessions and two water sessions per week. • June – July: • Students selected to compete at the Irish Rowing Championships in July must be available to train from the 14 th June – 18 th July and complete five water sessions per week.

Crew Selection - J 16 / J 18 • Coaches strive to select crews from the beginning of the season and develop each crew throughout the year. • Doing this will help produce the best results. • Rowing is unlike other sports in that the substitution of one seat can have a negative impact on the speed, balance and enjoyability of the boat. • The provisional crew selection is available on the Rowing Ireland Website 10 days prior to the event. Final Crew selection is announced on the evening after the last water session before the event. • Rowers competing for Blackrock College must adhere to the training schedule and make themselves available for selection. • An absence from a water session within two weeks of an event requires an email from parents to explain why the absence is necessary.

Safety

Swimming • Rowers must be able to swim. • All rowers must complete the swim test in Blackrock College. • The test requires the rowers to: • Swim 50 metres, • Thread water for 2 minutes and • Swim under water for 5 metres • Please inform Laura Gannon immediately if your child is a particularly weak swimmer.

Capsizing In the unlikely event of a capsize; • Rowers should NEVER leave their boat. • The boat is a natural buoyancy aid. • Rowers are advised to release their feet from the shoes using the safety features provided and get out of the water as quickly as possible. • Rowers do not wear life jackets or buoyancy aids. They should NEVER attempt to swim to the bank. • Rowers should ALWAYS stay with their boat. • Rowers should get out of the water by sitting on top of their capsized boat (which acts as a buoyancy aid) and await the assistance of the accompanying safety launch who can complete a safe rescue. • A capsize drill can be complete in a single scull and double scull. • During cold weather rowers MUST get out of the water, sit on their boat, until the accompanying safety launch can complete a safe rescue.

Safety Boats • As the authority in charge of the lake, the ESB require every crew that trains on the water be accompanied by a safety launch (small engine powered boat). • Safety launches are equipped with waterproof bags containing basic First Aid equipment, flares and foil blankets in case of emergency. • All coaches are also equipped with VHF Radios to which they can communicate to other coaches on land also emergency service channels. • All launches are powered by no more than a 20 HP engine in correspondence with ESB Fishery Policy.

BLACKROCK COLLEGE ROWING CLUB Est 2009 Blackrock Rowing Journey to date UCD 2009 Rowing introduced in Blackrock College. 4 single sculls donated by Leinster Branch of Rowing Ireland. 2009 -2014 BRC Rowing out of UCD Boathouse Relationship ends in 2015. UCD 2015 BRC Homeless, DUBC (TCD) Assist, Future of rowing in Jeopardy ! 2016 Blackrock College with support from Rowing Ireland agree a membership arrangement with Neptune Rowing Club !! 2016 Parents Committee formed Neptune 2016 -17 Achieving Competitive Success and investment in Equipment 2018 Partnership end with Neptune ends on 31 April 2018. DUBC (TCD) Range of options investigated with Island Bridge Clubs Breakthrough with DUBC! BLSC 2018 -2022 Blessington Sailing Club

BLACKROCK COLLEGE ROWING CLUB Est 2009 Benefits of Relocation to Blessington ü Secure base and Development of our rowing club ü Cultural alignment with Blessington Sailing Club ethos of Participation in water Sports ü Certainty about our tenure with back up of a 5 year licence agreement ü Autonomy, no longer a Club within a Club dilemma as experienced with Neptune. ü Avoid congestion of Island Bridge yet continue to build relationship with Island Bridge Clubs ü Greater expanse of Water for distance training. ü Enable and support development of our Oars Men to the next level. ü Opportunity to Host our own Regatta!! ü Strategically Located in advance of Rowing Ireland centre construction on Blessington lake 2022 -23. Securing the future of rowing as a sporting option for our Boys Junior Quad Winner 2018 Neptune Regatta

BLACKROCK COLLEGE ROWING CLUB Est 2009 Location of Blessington Sailing Club

BLACKROCK COLLEGE ROWING CLUB Est 2009 Parking Aerial View of Blessington Sailing Club with Blackrock Rowing Club located at blue arrow

Benefits of Relocation to Dun Laoghaire Harbour ü On-going development of our rowing club ü Certainty about getting on the water during Covid times. ü Great expanse of Water for training. ü Proximity to the school. ü Ability to cycle to training. ü Enable and support development of our Oars Men to the next level.

BLACKROCK COLLEGE ROWING CLUB Est 2009 Club Subs 2020 - 2021 : € 250 Euro Rowing Club Subscription Breakdown • Club Subscription will be maintained at same as last year e. g € 250 € 7, 56 € 44, 44 • Club Subs to be paid before Fri 6 th November € 8, 20 € 130, 00 € 25, 00 Club Sub Elements / Member Rowing Location Costs Safety Boat Rental Rowing Ireland Registration EBS Licence Equipment Maintenance Fuel Purchase Total Annual Subscription Cost € 130. 00 € 30. 22 € 25. 00 € 8. 20 € 44. 44 € 7. 56 € 245 Num Members 45 45 45 Total € 5, 850. 00 € 1, 360. 00 € 1, 125. 00 € 369. 00 € 2, 000. 00 € 340. 00 € 11, 044 € 30, 22 BLSC Membership Safety Boat Rental Rowing Ireland Registration EBS Licence Equipment Maintenance Fuel Purchase

Payment link for membership • Will email instructions for payment.

BLACKROCK COLLEGE ROWING CLUB Est 2009 Corporate Sponsorship Blackrock Parents Catering Solutions

Sponsored Equipment • Fides – Coxed Quad – 4 x+ • Robur – Coxed Quad – 4 x+ • Libermann – Eight – 8+ • Simms 4 x+ • Janocek 4 x • Aylings 2 • Janocek 2 x • Filippi 1 x (2) • Boat Trailer

BLACKROCK COLLEGE ROWING CLUB Est 2009 How to Donate The minimum eligible amount for tax uplift is € 250 for example your donation of € 250 will become € 362 Donations below € 250 are not eligible for the tax 45% uplift. ü All donation will be used only to rowing equipment e. g. purchase oars, boats and out riggers ü Receipts will be issued for all donations from the development fund Ways to donate: By Cheque: 1. Make cheques out to: “Blackrock Development fund, Rowing” 2. Hand in Cheque to school office marked for Rowing Development Fund. 3. Send email to joshea@blackrockcollege. com and let Johnny know you have made a donation by cheque to be ring fenced for rowing. Online: https: //pay. easypaymentsplus. com/loginv 3. aspx 1. Follow instructions to sign up for a new account to make your online payment. 2. Send email to Johnny to let him know you have made an online donation to be ring fenced for rowing. If you require assistance or further information with donations please email : joshea@blackrockcollege. com

BLACKROCK COLLEGE ROWING CLUB Est 2009 How to Donate By Electronic Funds Transfer (Online Banking) Blackrock College Development Fund Bank details Name: Blackrock College Development Fund Bank: Bank of Ireland Branch: 2 COLLEGE GREEN DUBLIN 2 IBAN: IE 54 BOFI 90001792785932 BIC: BOFIIE 2 D 1. Send email to and let Johnny know you have made an online donation to be ring fenced for rowing If you require assistance or further information with donations please email: joshea@blackrockcollege. com

BLACKROCK COLLEGE ROWING CLUB Est 2009 Blackrock Development Fund On Line

Tax relief scheme for charities The Blackrock College and Willow Park Development Fund has charitable status. This means that all donations at or above € 250 per annum qualify for tax benefits as charitable donations. Under the new system introduced under the 2013 Finance Act, your donation can be added to by almost 45% simply by completing a form to certify that you have made a donation. For example, for every € 1, 000 we receive from a tax-paying donor, we can reclaim an additional € 449. 94 just by submitting a completed CHY 3 or CHY 4 form. Donation Tax rebate Total contribution € 250 € 112 € 362 € 500 € 225 € 725 € 1, 000 € 450 € 1, 450 € 2, 500 € 1, 112 € 3, 620 € 5, 000 € 2, 250 € 7, 250 Corporate Donation Tax relief Net commitment € 500 € 62. 50 € 437. 50 € 1, 000 € 125 € 875 € 2, 500 € 312. 50 € 2, 187. 50 € 5, 000 € 625 € 4, 375 Personal donation Corporate donation CHY 3688

BLACKROCK COLLEGE ROWING CLUB Est 2009 Getting Involved – support your son and make friends The Rowing Club always needs new committee members! Please email rowing@blackrockcollege. com

Committee Members • Laura Gannon – • Aidan Tiernan • Aine Ni Neachtain • Gerry Murphy • Corinna Carrick Director of Rowing Linda Douris Mella Brophy Paul White Sarah Managan

BLACKROCK COLLEGE ROWING CLUB Est 2009 Online Communications • Email • Weekly updates. • rowing@blackrockcollege. com • Google Drive (by Google) • Easy access to shared online folder, surveys, forms • Microsoft Teams • Students are set up with a school email and access to Teams for training and racing updates.

BLACKROCK COLLEGE ROWING CLUB Est 2009 Social Media Website - https: //rockrowing. wordpress. com/ Facebook - Rock Rowing Instagram – blackrowing

BLACKROCK COLLEGE ROWING CLUB Est 2009 Questions!